AP source: Florida hires Stricklin as athletic director

AP source: Florida hires Stricklin as athletic director

Published Sep. 26, 2016 8:38 p.m. ET

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) A person familiar with the search says Florida has hired Mississippi State's Scott Stricklin as its new athletic director.

Stricklin replaces Jeremy Foley, one of the most tenured sports executives in the country. Foley is retiring Saturday after 40 years with the Gators, including the last 25 in charge of Florida's athletic program. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because Florida has an announcement and introductory news conference planned for Tuesday.

USA Today first reported Stricklin had been hired.

Stricklin will leave his alma mater and the place he's worked for nearly a decade to follow Foley. Stricklin has been the Bulldogs' AD since 2012. He has a background in fundraising, which will serve him well in Gainesville.

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Foley unveiled plans two weeks ago to spend $100 million to upgrade facilities, including building a 100,000-square-foot, stand-alone football facility.

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AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org

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